Take-Two Struggles, Helldivers 2 is Too Cool, “Yellow Paint” Drama, + More! - GameLinked Feb 13, 2024

[JakobRush]

 

NEWS SOURCES:

 

TAKE-TWO’S TAKE-TWO

Take-Two announces “significant cost reduction”

https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/take-two-gta-6-still-2025-cost-cuts-no-layoffs-1235902558/

Told multiple outlets “We have no current plans for layoffs” https://lmg.gg/xL2Uo (Variety)

“more robust” than last year’s, which DEFINITELY included layoffs https://www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-embarks-on-another-cost-reduction-program-as-q3-sales-dip

“Our biggest line-item expense is marketing, actually” https://lmg.gg/A6MtA (GamesIndustry.Biz)

-       JOKE: why don’t you just let people leak your games then?

Why is the industry shedding thousands of staff? https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/feb/08/why-is-the-games-industry-shedding-staff-epic-games-activision-blizzard

Game devs discuss reasons for layoffs https://www.ign.com/articles/ive-never-seen-it-this-bad-game-developers-explain-the-huge-layoffs-hitting-riot-epic-and-more

-       Lots of people point to the pandemic but “over 10,000 layoffs in 2023, and over 6,000 more in 2024,”

-       “a mobile gaming company that threw "a considerably expensive week-long event," including flying in employees from overseas, just two months before laying off 30% of the staff.”

-       Xbox has “been increasingly turning to outsourcing and co-development”, as has Bungie for QA

-       Co-developers also struggling; UK company says “work is being actively shifted to countries where labor is cheaper, and quality work is actively being sacrificed for speed and cost-efficacy.”

-       But also game development is getting more expensive and taking longer, so “the financial risk inherent in making any big game over several years is incredibly high, and climbing higher”

Studios taking fewer risks and concentrating on “sure-fire” hits, perpetuating cycle https://lmg.gg/ZzcRP (The Guardian)

Some companies are doing layoffs because the layoff news cycle is so short https://lmg.gg/Xhulc (The Guardian)

Adam Jensen VA Elias Toufexis says industry is a disaster zone; several games he was working on scrapped https://twitter.com/EliasToufexis/status/1755392785782566933

 

LOTS OF BUGS

Helldivers 2 is TOO popular; devs haven’t been able to sleep

https://www.eurogamer.net/helldivers-2-dev-says-sleep-crucial-before-team-can-address-further-issues

Deployed several rapid fixes https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/553850/view/4022346438967281357

increased server rate limit and total capacity https://lmg.gg/1izYf (Steam)

Still not enough as player count met new capacity in <6 minutes https://lmg.gg/Jvf8U (Steam)

tries to increase capacity AGAIN, make other changes but roll back patch after it makes things worse

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/helldivers-2-server-and-rewards-patch-released-then-rolled-back-to-fix-significant-performance-issues

The patch https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/553850?emclan=103582791473678397&emgid=4022346438970380903

Rollback announcement https://www.reddit.com/r/Helldivers/comments/1apc50l/patch_005_and_performance_issues_pc/

 

GOODBYE YELLOW PAINT ROAD

Yellow paint back in the news after FF7 Rebirth demo

https://kotaku.com/yellow-paint-debate-ff7-rebirth-demo-resident-evil-4-1851249608

Viral tweet https://twitter.com/DaveOshry/status/1755469586999505137

Harkens back to yellow ladders from Resident Evil 4 remake https://twitter.com/feydemon/status/1708903903025123641

Blind gamer says yellow paint helps accessibility for low vision and people who are cognitively disabled https://twitter.com/stevesaylor/status/1755666488294346894

Developer once had to explain how to jump in a game with one button https://twitter.com/2DDave/status/1756198907133190455

Back during RE4 controversy, dev Damion Schubert said “The push towards more realistic art increases the need for more unrealistic visual cues.” https://twitter.com/ZenOfDesign/status/1709663927292797004

Arkane devs say it isn’t necessary: “it’s a choice and investment” https://www.gamesradar.com/deathloop-and-dishonored-developers-reveal-the-effort-they-go-to-guide-players-without-using-that-immersion-breaking-yellow-paint/

 

QUICK BITS

 

2 SWITCH 2 COMPATIBLE

Leaks say Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible

https://wccftech.com/nintendo-switch-2-backwards-compatability/

https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-rumors-claim-the-console-will-be-backwards-compatible-and-powered-by-a-custom-nvidia-chip

PH Brazil https://twitter.com/phluttilippe/status/1756686123928084960

ResetEra NateDrake https://www.resetera.com/threads/universal-nintendo-switch-2-will-feature-physical-and-digital-backwards-capability-devs-have-access-to-enhance-switch-1-games.815544/?post=118957611#post-118957611

Reuters reporting consistent with 3yo custom Nvidia chip leak

https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidia-chases-30-billion-custom-chip-market-with-new-unit-sources-2024-02-09/

Specifically this line https://lmg.gg/gVZPH (Reuters)

 

MALWORLD

Palworld sets new record for Steam player drop

https://www.pcgamesn.com/palworld/steam-player-drop

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/02/12/palworld-has-lost-two-thirds-of-its-players-in-two-weeks/?sh=701351606310

Doesn’t seem to be hurting studio too much, hiring a lot https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/palworld-studio-recruiting-for-all-positions-due-to-games-overwhelming-success/

 

DUNGEONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

D&D kinda misses its own 50th birthday but makes announcements

https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-50th-anniversary-pbh-dmg-vecna-wotc-1851249000

https://www.gamesradar.com/dandd-is-doing-a-major-throwback-with-these-refreshed-retro-adventures/

5th edition revision won’t fully release until after its 51st birthday https://www.polygon.com/24067481/dnd-dungeons-dragons-onednd-delay-2024-rules-refresh-players-handbook-dmg-release-date-price

 

CRITICAL KISS

Baldur’s Gate 3 massive patch with big fixes

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2024/02/baldurs-gate-3-dev-teases-hefty-new-update-arriving-next-week

Easier to swap companions https://www.thegamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-patch-6-swap-companions-faster-without-dismissing-one/

But no one cares about all that, it’s about improved smooching; just in time for Valentine’s Day https://twitter.com/baldursgate3/status/1755980870664466761

The devs tweeted at LEAST two smooches https://twitter.com/larianstudios/status/1757078067132940537

 

NO BS

F-Zero games recreated using AI and VHS

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/02/f-zero-courses-from-a-dead-nintendo-satellite-service-restored-using-vhs-and-ai/

https://www.pressthebuttons.com/2024/02/lost-satellaview-f-zero-tracks-return.html

The courses https://youtu.be/hpnuRKtnA_Q